by
Lisa Chamoff, Contributing Reporter | March 27, 2017
From the March 2017 issue of HealthCare Business News magazine
Toshiba
At last year’s RSNA, Toshiba launched a new ceiling mounted C-arm. Called the Infinix-i Sky +, the angiography system is a unique double sliding C-arm and 12-inch-by-16- inch flat panel, which allows for 3-D imaging around the patient, says Kristin Jones, senior manager of strategic marketing development for X-ray and interventional X-ray at Toshiba.
“The Sky system rotates like [a] typical Carm, plus has two areas where it slides,” Jones says. “If they want to work on the left side and the right side, they have the flexibility because of the positioning of the C-arm itself.” The system provides image acquisition of up to 80 degrees per second and 210 degrees of anatomical coverage on the left and right sides of the patient, Jones says. The company’s previous product could only do 3-D imaging of the head. “You reposition the C-arm, not you or your patient,” Jones says.
Jones says the Infinix-i Sky + provides 10 more degrees of coverage than competitors’ products, allowing for a 3-D angio spin at either side of the table. And because of the unique double sliding C-arm, the ability to position the C-arm at a 90-degree lateral view under the table is particularly useful for endovascular work, or procedures, such as TAVR, where a sterile field of view is necessary. The company’s first Infinix-i Sky + system was installed at Terrebonne General Medical Center in Houma, Louisiana. “That 10 degrees really makes a difference when you’re acquiring images,” Jones says. “It can really help with the workflow.”
Peter Fail, a cardiologist at Cardiovascular Institute of the South, which is affiliated with Terrebonne General Medical Center, says the facility’s new Infinix-i Sky + has improved views of the anatomy during structural heart procedures. With the older Toshiba equipment, they would have to either move the patient or get a substandard view. “The double C-arm allows you to get there and look at a 90-degree view, whereas with the older technology, sometimes you couldn’t get there,” Fail says. “I don’t think you realize how it changes until you use that view.”
Philips
Philips recently released Azurion, its newest angiography system, marking one of the biggest product launches for the company in the last several years. Philips, which two years ago acquired medical device manufacturer Volcano Corp., is promoting the system as a next-generation, image-guided therapy platform that will help hospitals increase productivity, shortening the time for procedures and lowering costs. “It’s really a whole new generation of angiography systems,” says Bert van Meurs, business leader for image-guided therapy at Philips. “We see it as a change from a normal mobile phone to a smartphone.”